4.110 - Transportation

The District shall provide free transportation for any student in the District who resides: (1) at a distance of one and one-half miles or more from his or her assigned school, unless the School Board has certified to the Illinois State Board of Education that adequate public transportation is available, or (2) within one and one-half miles from his or her assigned school where walking to school or to a pick-up point or bus stop would constitute a serious hazard due to vehicular traffic or rail crossing, and adequate public transportation is not available. A student’s parent(s)/ guardian(s) may file a petition with the Board requesting transportation due to the existence of a serious safety hazard. Free transportation service and vehicle adaptation is provided for a special education student if included in the student’s individualized educational program. Non-public school students shall be transported in accordance with State law. Homeless students shall be transported in accordance with the McKinney Homeless Assistance Act. Bus schedules and routes shall be determined by the Superintendent or designee and shall be altered only with the Superintendent or designee’s approval and direction. In fixing the routes, the pick-up and discharge points should be as safe and convenient for students as possible.

No school employee may transport students in school or private vehicles unless authorized by the administration. Every vehicle regularly used for the transportation of students must pass safety inspections in accordance with State law and Illinois Department of Transportation regulations. The strobe light on a school bus may be illuminated any time a bus is bearing one or more students. The Superintendent shall implement procedures in accordance with State law for accepting comment calls about school bus driving.

All contracts for charter bus services must contain the clause prescribed by State law regarding criminal background checks for bus drivers.

Pre-Trip and Post-Trip Vehicle Inspection. The Superintendent or designee shall develop and implement a pre-trip and post-trip inspection procedure to ensure that the school bus driver: (1) tests the two-way radio and ensures that it is functioning properly before the bus is operated, and (2) walks to the rear of the bus before leaving the bus at the end of each route, work shift, or work day, to check the bus for children or other passengers in the bus.